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What We Need to Know About Cell Phone Etiquette

Mar 21 2017

There’s an episode of the sitcom New Girl where lovably pedantic Schmidt pulls out his ringing mobile. Incredulous, he says, “What? My phone hasn’t rung in two years!” There’s plenty of truth in that one-liner. We have Skype. We have FaceTime. And the too-convenient ability to text message. Really, who talks on the phone anymore? Mobile phones are hardly the simple chatting devices of ages past; they are fun-sized, portable computer devices, a far cry from the spring-tethered rotary dial model and the cordless version my family used to lose under the couch cushions. We communicate so differently…

Mar 15 2017

Remember Snackwells? The near-miracle treat that contains no fat? Back when we were told that fat, any fat, in our diets would surely lead to our artery-clogging demise, these cookies were a godsend to those of us with a raging sweet tooth. And I remember my indulgence, eating almost a whole box of the devil’s food variety, proudly avoiding an eminent heart attack by eating dessert so wisely. But now, times have changed and the “devil” in the name of those (let’s face it) tasteless, half-dessicated cookies has an updated meaning. Most of the calories come from sugar (satanic carbs!) and…

Mar 09 2017

One morning last fall, I just had to walk away. Homeschooling was not going well, specifically grammar, and I had to just take a break. No, we all needed a break. It was a Monday, my daughter was coming off her 10th birthday celebration, and we were in a sprint down Letdown Lane. Ok, I’ll admit it. I didn’t just walk away. I went and hid in my bedroom. Before I retreated, I gave my kids their science books and asked them to read. I honestly didn’t think they’d do it (they did admit to playing Minecraft on my…

Dec 15 2016

This is a Christmas Story. Not the Biblical one, not the one with the adorable, bespectacled boy who pines for a Red Ryder BB gun. Still, it’s a Christmas story, but a different one. In a town near where I grew up, a girl was given shelter. But that’s about it. She went hungry under that roof, having to beg the neighbors and her classmates for food. She stole a pair of shoes and was caught doing it. Her explanation for her actions was “Because I don’t have any.” She carried a foul, unclean odor with her. Surely she suffered…

Nov 17 2016

I don’t get it. How did we miss this when we bought our house? More importantly, how did the home inspector miss it? There are no floors in my kids’ bedrooms. Ok, that’s not entirely true. One of my boys does have a bedroom floor…and it’s carpeted! However, his closet floor is lost beneath a teetering mountain of camping gear, books on pet care, and remote control cars. But my daughter and older son…nope, no floors. My daughter’s room is Party Central, and everything from clothes to dolls to crafts cavort in a happy, wild mix. It’s like her closet…

Nov 02 2016

Guess my husband and I have been paying our kids sweatshop wages. It’s not intentional, but with three kids, weekly allowance is a noticeable expense. And right now, my husband and I do pay for all their needs. So how much money do kids really need in their wallets? More than we are paying out. There are definite clues the amount of money we provide is not enough. For example, their birthday “windfall” is so scorching hot it doesn’t have a chance to burn holes in their pockets; they spend it that fast. And my son wants an…

Aug 30 2016

It’s hard to believe the back-to-school season is upon us. Kids love the flurry of activity that swirls around shopping for new clothes and shoes (a pair of Tom’s, please, requests my 9 year-old, already a cute-shoe guru), school supplies and for us, homeschool curricula. It’s not quite as much fun completing the requisite back-to-school paperwork and gathering and maintaining (ouch) up-to-date health records (yes, even for homeschoolers). As I do the paper-pushing, I am reminded it is time to repost the following essay on the importance of vaccinating our children: I’m going to give this to you straight….

Apr 27 2016

When I typed “only children as parents” into Google, I found very little that discussed only children and their children. Here’s what I found instead (among other things): “9 Reasons Why Dating An Only Child is Difficult.” (Ha, only 9? My husband would love to add to that list!) “What Being an Only Child Says About You.” (with a title like that it can’t be good…) Various sites regarding support groups for the parents of only children. and finally (I almost peed a little when I saw it.): “Only Child Adult Blog: Are You an Only-Child and a Parent?” which…

Apr 19 2016

Wet sand flung at our stucco. Mud tracked through our play room. A soccer ball (intentionallly) pulverizing my son’s lego creations. And an unmistakable defiance for the adult in charge. So how do you tell parents their kid is a brat?

Apr 12 2016

My twin boys are rapidly approaching adolescence. Moods are swinging, zits are erupting here-and-there, and oh, yes, BO is making its presence known. Of course, my younger, sweatier son would be the first to need the Speed Stick. Because in direct opposition to his brother’s love of the shower, he can turn on the water, physically get in the shower, and emerge with a perfectly dry head. In other words, hygiene is even less on his radar than his brother’s. Brushing his teeth is a small victory; getting him to use his “deodorant” is nearly impossible. Fortunately, he is…

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What We Need to Know About Cell Phone Etiquette

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